Global aging population to surpass children under 5 by 2025

A joint report from U.S. government agencies and Australian researchers indicates a historic demographic shift: by 2025, the global population aged 65 and older is expected to reach approximately 852 million, accounting for 10.5% of the total population. This marks the first time in recorded history that the elderly population has surpassed the number of children under the age of five.

Currently, over 71% of the global population resides in countries with fertility rates at or below the replacement level of 2.1, a significant increase from 45% a decade ago. Projections suggest that by 2060, the global population aged 65 and older will rise to 2 billion, representing nearly 20% of the world's population, with Asia expected to account for two-thirds of this growth.

In response to these trends, South Korea has seen a recent uptick in birth rates following aggressive fiscal support and childcare policies. Conversely, Japan faces challenges with declining marriage intentions; a survey by the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research found that over 20% of unmarried men and women in the 18–34 age group have no intention of marrying in their lifetime.